The Beautiful Fight · The Beautiful Fight is created to equip Salvationist men to live out the daily, dynamic expression of our faith. The purpose of the study is to equip men with

Doctrine VII

The Beautiful Fight

“Followership”

Inside This Addition

Temptations of Leadership

Feed My Sheep

The Essential Nature of a Follower/Leader

Follow Me as I Follow Christ

Men’s Bible Study

BOOK SEVEN OF ELEVEN BOOKS

THE BEAUTIFUL FIGHT

Copyright © 2015

The Salvation Army

1424 Northeast Expressway, Atlanta, GA 30329

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from:

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INTRODUCTION

International Mission The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian

church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is

to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

The purpose of The Salvation Army is to love God and man, to preach the good news of Jesus,

and to express practical concern for the needs of humanity. This is referred to as having a “blood

and fire spirit” for the mission of The Salvation Army.

Salvationist of the USA Southern Territory are… Answering God’s call to make radical followers of Jesus Christ who love inclusively, serve helpfully and disciple effectively in the communities where they live.

Men’s Ministries Mission Statement

Leading men into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and into community with other men who love and serve Him.

The Beautiful Fight A men’s Bible study intentionally designed to continue the process of transformation in a small

group setting, The Beautiful Fight is designed to equip men in The Salvation Army...

with the message of the Bible with the ministry motivated by the love of God with the mission to preach the gospel

Ephesians 4:11–13

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to

equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all

reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to

the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

INTRODUCTION

Introduction Jesus came to bring a new Kingdom to earth. Jesus’ initial call is, “Come, follow me.” His desire

is for His disciples to become like Him, literally to re-present Him to a lost and dying world. The

disciple of Jesus is called to be conformed to the image and character of our Master. The Army’s

expression of this call of Christ is unique. The Beautiful Fight is created to equip Salvationist men

to live out the daily, dynamic expression of our faith. The purpose of the study is to equip men

with the message of the Bible, to live in ministry motivated by the love of God, and to carry out

the mission to preach the gospel. The Beautiful Fight provides a biblical foundation to nourish

and cultivate life as a disciple of Christ in a relational context. This material is best used in the

local corps, the ARC, and in your Army outpost.

As our first doctrine teaches, Scripture is the primary foundation for our study. We’ll examine the

Word of God and its implications for our lives and for the world. All aspects of our study will

build upon this Scriptural foundation, all explored and lived out both personally and

communally.

Our one-year study will require you to fight, but it will be a beautiful fight. God is at work right

now, turning your ashes into beauty and your mourning into dancing. He is at work redeeming,

restoring, and resurrecting lives. His work in you is beautiful, but it’s also a fight. One of the

greatest sins of men in our day is the sin of passivity. We see its roots in the Garden of Eden, but

its offspring lives wildly in our world today. To counter this temptation, you’ll be asked to study,

you’ll be asked to share, and you’ll be asked to serve. The Beautiful Fight will call you to

continually give your heart to God and your hand to mankind, starting in your home, moving to

your neighborhood, continuing in your corps, and extending into your world.

This curriculum contains homework. You’ll want to create space in your week to study and

reflect in order to allow the Holy Spirit to freely work in you, and then you’ll want to share the

insights He gives you with your The Beautiful Fight study group. Be sure to make notes of the

ways the Spirit is calling you to deeper places with Him as you as you move through this study.

And celebrate! In this fight, it’s imperative that we celebrate the ways in which God is constantly

making all things new.

INTRODUCTION

Comrades & Conditions

Jesus called twelve disciples to come and do life with Him. These twelve disciples experienced

deep intimacy with Christ, both personally and communally, as they lived and served together.

Jesus invited three of the twelve into an even closer relationship with Him. Peter, James, and

John were invited into the inner parts of Jesus’ life, sharing both His suffering and His pain.

The ideal context for our study is one that closely resembles that of the disciples: a committed

group of men who are willing to journey and fight together in a growing relationship with Jesus.

Groups consist of 12 men with 2 co-facilitators ( ).

Participant Expectations:

We will fight for truth. We will fight to understand Biblical directives. We will fight for Biblical koinonia. We will fight for each other and advocate for each other’s families. We will refuse to settle for passivity.

We will commit to completing our homework and participating in our weekly studies.

Our weekly/monthly gatherings are essential to our transformation process. Quarterly social

gatherings and overnight retreats help deepen relationships, as well. It will also be imperative

that we spend time together outside of these weekly/monthly group studies in our one-on-one

meetings. The matrix to the right is designed to help you stay accountable to one man per

month. Use the matrix to coordinate get-togethers with your monthly prayer and accountability

partner. Schedule a coffee/breakfast/lunch meeting with each man in your study.

LUNCH/BREAKFAST/COFFEE MATRIX

NAMES →

• JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV

JAN • MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

FEB MAR • MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN

MAR APR MAY • JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB

APR MAY JUN JUL • SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR

MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP • NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR

JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV • JAN FEB MAR APR MAY

JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN • MAR APR MAY JUN

AUG SEP NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR • MAY JUN JUL

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY • JUL AUG

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL • SEP

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP •

Instructions

Write names in alphabetical order across the top and alongside the table.

If a group has fewer than 12 members write “NC” for non-Christian and try to meet with an unbelieving friend.

INTR

OD

UC

TIO

N

7

INTRODUCTION

Syllabus for Followership

The Beautiful Fight full study curriculum takes a year to complete, but we have broken it into

eleven books with six to eight weeks of study. This will provide your men the flexibility to frame

each study in a way that best works into your overall schedule. Our prayer is that the Spirit will lead

you deep into His word. You’ll also be guided by a variety of resources specifically chosen to

encourage and equip Salvationist men, including our eleven doctrines.

Doctrine VII

We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by

the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.

INSIDE THIS STUDY: Introduction/Battle Lines Temptations of Leadership Feed My Sheep The Essential Nature of a Follower/Leader Follow Me as I Follow Christ Vespers

INTRODUCTION

Doctrines of The Salvation Army

1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God,

and that they only constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice.

2. We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor

of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.

3. We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost,

undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.

4. We believe that in the person of Jesus Christ the Divine and human natures are united, so that He

is truly and properly God and truly and properly man.

5. We believe that our first parents were created in a state of innocency, but by their disobedience they

lost their purity and happiness, and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners,

totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.

6. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the

whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.

7. We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and regeneration by the

Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.

8. We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that

believeth hath the witness in himself.

9. We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

10. We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be wholly sanctified, and that their whole spirit

and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

11. We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment

at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment

of the wicked.

INTRODUCTION

My Story: “Battle Lines” Your life was designed by God. Who you were, who you are, and who you will become are all

part of your transformation process. God is conforming you to the image and character of His

Son. As brothers and comrades in the Army, we join each other on this journey of

transformation. One of the best ways we can begin our journey together is to share our stories.

Everyone has a story to share. Your story, and sharing it, matters.

For the first couple of weeks, we want to create a space for you to share your story—your real

story. There will be temptation to simply share your resume or your successes and

accomplishments, but your brothers are more interested in your heart than they are your title.

With that in mind, here are a few questions to consider as you prepare to share your story.

1. Where are you in life right now?

2. What went into making you the man you are?

3. Who (positive and negative) has had the greatest impact on your life?

4. What events (positive and negative) have had the greatest impact on your life? 5. What are a few of your heaviest burdens? How can your brothers help you

fight? How can your brothers carry your burdens to the cross?

As you prepare to share your story, ask God to lead and affirm you. While acknowledging that

rich relationships as well as great battles and pain have gone into weaving your story, ask God to

remind you that you are a part of His bigger story. Allow the Spirit to guide you as you prepare,

share, and live out your story.

You may want to write out your story to help you better prepare to share with your brothers.

Remember, as always, that the content shared in your study is confidential.

INTRODUCTION

Battle Lines

People Events Places

Followership

In a day when the world is focused on producing leaders, the

Church must continue to focus on producing followers.

Jesus never called a single person to lead. He did,

however, invite all humanity to follow.

Our response to His call to follow Him—our decision to live in

humility, irrelevance, and submission to Christ—will allow the Spirit

to holistically produce a harvest of righteousness in and through us.

In this module, we will study the essence of biblical leadership:

followership. We will examine how Jesus led by maintaining

a constant posture of surrender to the will of His Father.

We will also learn to fight the temptation to be in

control, to see people as utilities, and to further

feed the consumeristic tendencies of our Christian culture.

We must lead. There is no other solution to the decay of our world.

The way we lead OTHERS, the way we live with OTHERS, and

the way we love OTHERS will dictate the kind of harvest that

grows the Kingdom Jesus came to bring. We will memorize Psalm

23 and study our 7th doctrine. Join us as we follow Jesus in

leading a lost world back to our Savior.

Temptations OF Leadership

God’s Word—Matthew 4:1–11

Context: What’s the specific context of this passage? What comes before it, and what follows

it? Note the writer and the primary audience.

Themes: What’s the primary focus of the text? What speaks to you as you

read? Note any directives or commands in the text.

Implication: How is this passage calling you to live? How will you build your life on this

foundational truth?

Message of the Bible—Sealed Orders

Read Matthew 4:1–11.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty

days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of

God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning

you, and they will lift you up in their

hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world

and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and

serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

What is the implication of Jesus fasting for forty days in the wilderness? What role does fasting

play in your life?

Jesus is tempted in three ways. Write each specific temptation and its core.

1.

2.

3.

Jesus fights temptation with Scripture. How does His example compel you to respond when you

are tempted?

Are the temptations found in followership/leadership different when you are not in a leadership

context? Describe.

Author Wil Hernandez references Henri Nouwen’s suggestion that the three temptations presented

to Jesus are the same temptations presented to any follower/leader today.

1. The temptation to be relevant—the ability to “tell these stones to become bread.”

In our success-driven world, we find ourselves tempted to get results. We’re tempted to be more

influential, to bring in more people, to win more souls for the purpose of being productive

members of the community. We busy ourselves with things that will attract attention, even using

shock value to get noticed. We manufacture environments, create programs and more programs,

and can even begin to present Christianity as a product that will make us happy, healthy, and

whole. Hernandez says, “Whatever contexts in which we find ourselves, we are always

confronted with that irresistible pull to be indispensable, competent, productive, and in control.”i

In what ways do you currently feel that pull?

2. The temptation to be spectacular—the pull to “throw yourself down...so that you will not

strike your foot against a stone.”

In our culture, there is a growing fascination with the sensational. We succumb to the lie that

“bigger is better.” We strive to do more and to go farther, all out of a need to attract people to our

God...or to ourselves. We must resist the temptation to make Jesus attractive. He doesn’t need our

help. We must lift Him up, simply, elegantly, in all His glory. We must make much of Him and

His Word rather than try and satisfy people with our own acts of grandeur. We must fiercely fight

against the temptation to be spectacular. Henri Nouwen writes, “We act as if visibility and

notoriety were the main criteria of the value of what we are doing.”2

What’s at the core of your temptation to do the spectacular?

3. The temptation to be powerful—the hunger to be shown and given “all the kingdoms of

the world and their splendor.”

Power. Control. Self-Justification. Each is hidden within the temptation to be powerful. The lust

for power is the most insidious of the three temptations presented to Jesus, for it reveals the

greatest threat to intimacy with God and with others. Nouwen underscores this truth.

Much Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to

develop healthy, intimate relationships and have opted for power and control

instead. Many Christian empire-builders have been people unable to give and

receive love.3

How are you tempted to succumb to the temptation to be powerful vs. being loving?

As a leader in your home, your work, and your corps, how are you tempted? Respond to the

following prompts to complete the sentences.

When I am tempted to be relevant, I

When I am tempted to be spectacular, I

When I am tempted to be powerful, I

Nouwen suggests that the primary antidotes for these temptations are contemplative prayer,

confession, and theological reflection. What are your antidotes for these temptations?

Jesus was tempted, yet He chose to follow His Father’s will. He chose surrender and submission.

He chose downward mobility. He chose the cross. As you consider the role of leadership, what

one truth can you glean from Jesus’ leadership example?

Ministry Motivated by the Love of God—Sharing & Caring

Read Acts 8:9–25.

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the

people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and

low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when

they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus

Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And

he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent

Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that

they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them;

they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their

hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the

gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not

right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having

such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”

24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and

John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.

Simon was a powerful leader. He honed his practice and “amazed all the people of Samaria.”

How did people perceive Simon? What did people see when they looked at him? What did he

sound like? How did Simon feel when people were “amazed” by his acts?

Simon “boasted that he was someone great.” He was a man to whom people, both high and low,

gave their attention. His ability to conjure up spirits and wow crowds with his art puffed up his

spirit. In the last six months, how have you grown in humility?

Simon heard the gospel and believed in Jesus, yet he fell. What happened?

William Booth said, “The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” What’s the

parallel between surrender and leadership?

When Simon saw the work of the Holy Spirit through the lives of the disciples, he wanted that

same power. He even offered to buy that power with money. How do you protect yourself from

the allure of greatness?

In writing about this text, Jon Bloom says:

And like many who have once experienced the euphoric drug of other people’s

adoration, he wanted that rush again. If he could somehow get this Jesus power,

then once again he could be great. Once again people would hold him in awe. He

was willing to pay a high price for that drug.4

Is there something in your life that pulls you back or pulls you away from intimacy with Christ?

What was—or what is—your “euphoric drug”?

One man in the Eastern Territory recently shared his Simon story.

It was the perfect storm. I was coaching soccer first thing in the morning, leading

a funeral at noon, and doing a vow renewal service at 6:00. My wife was tired of

my busyness and my kids were just too busy to notice. I kept telling myself I was

busied because “I was doing it all for God.” I told my wife this busyness would

end “if I can just get through this next season.”

After the funeral I went back to the office to prepare for the vow renewal, and

there it was. An invitation from a girl I once knew but never fully forgot. This

girl was like a drug. I’d moved on, and I had not been in contact with her for

years. She was in another division, but we’d exchange glances at some Army

events. And then, after all this time, there was the invitation.

I didn’t act on it physically. I didn’t acknowledge her email. I told my wife and

close friends about her offer, and then deleted her from all of my social media.

But I couldn’t delete the invitation from my mind and heart. I liked being

wanted. I liked being admired. I liked the attention. I liked thinking that she was

thinking about me. And, at times I still do.

In what ways do you see yourself in Simon the Sorcerer?

Our God graciously forgives. His love is greater than our sin. Ultimately, it’s Him we desire. More

than power, more than control, more than gratifying the desires of our sinful nature, it’s Jesus that

we need. We don’t desire His blessings or His plan; we desire His Person. Read and reflect on the

new hymn of the Church, “Open Up the Sky.” Allow this to be your prayer today.

Our beloved Father Please come down and meet us We are waiting on Your touch Open up the heavens Shower down Your presence We respond to Your great love

We won’t be satisfied with anything

ordinary We won’t be satisfied at all

Open up the sky

Fall down like

rain We don’t

want blessing We

want You

Open up the sky

Fall down like

fire We don’t want

anything but You

Our beloved Jesus We just want to see You In the glory of Your light

Earthly things don’t matter

They just fade and shatter

When we’re touched by love divine

Here we go, let’s go to the throne The place that we belong Right into His arms5

Mission to Preach the Gospel—OTHERS

Let’s review a passage we first read in Week Six—Ecclesiastes 4:8–12.

There was a man all alone;

he had neither son nor brother.

There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his

wealth. “For whom am I toiling,” he asked,

“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?” This too is

meaningless— a miserable business!

9 Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls

down, one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be

overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

What is the essence of the communal aspect of followership?

How have you seen the truth of this passage lived out in your life?

Leaders often protect themselves. In an effort to appear strong and courageous, some leaders

refuse to be vulnerable and share their struggles. In his book Telling Secrets, Frederick Buechner

reminds us that no matter our position, we all have a deep need for genuine relationships with

other men.

...What we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full

humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else.

It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and

fully are... because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and

fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which

we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real

thing.6

What are two ways you are becoming more of the person God created you to be? How is your

group participating in this growth process?

1.

2.

Seminary professor and leadership expert Robert Clinton studied hundreds of biblical, historical,

and contemporary leaders in his research for his book The Making of a Leader. The study

concluded that of all of these men, only about one-third of them “finish well.”

Clinton identifies six primary challenges to finishing well. Most have to do with a lack of

integrity: the abuse of finances, pride and self-centeredness, the abuse of power, and illicit

sexual relationships. Other challenges are critical family issues and plateauing, or continuing to

operate in ministry without Spirit-empowered renewal. It’s not that these leaders don’t make it

to heaven...they just don’t get to the finish line experiencing their full potential in Christ.7

Which of these six areas present the greatest challenge to you today?

Read the following examples and, in your own words, describe each “finish

line.” Noah (Genesis 9:18–29)

Moses (Deuteronomy 34:1–5)

Samson (Judges 16:23–31)

Read Philippians 3:12–14.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to

take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider

myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining

toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me

heavenward in Christ Jesus.

As a leader, what is God calling you to “take hold of ” as you run the race? How can your

brothers join you in this season of the race? How can you ensure that you finish well?

Read and reflect on the following statement by Henri Nouwen: “When we do not live in deep

communion with God…then religion is easily put into the service of our desire for success, fame,

and stardom.”8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reflection & Prayer

As you conclude this week’s study, answer the following questions. Note the ways your brothers

can join you in prayer.

† Lord, what are You saying to me?

† How do You want me to respond to You?

† I am burdened in the following areas:

† I’m thanking God for His work in the following ways:

† Use this space to note the praises and petitions of your brothers.

WEEK THIRTY-THREE

Feed MY Sheep

God’s Word—John 21






foundational truth?

WEEK THIRTY-THREE

302


Read John 21:1–14.

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2

Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of

Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them,

and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they

caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any

fish?” “No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter

heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it

off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of

fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire

of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed

back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 15 but even with so many

the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are

you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the

same with the fish.

14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Summarize the original invitation Jesus extended to Peter. Include Peter’s response. (Matthew 4)

Peter, to his own shame, had denied Jesus in His last hours of life. Jesus died and is now

resurrected. Peter, the one of whom Jesus said, “On this rock I will build my Church,” is now

exasperated. Peter, though called to build the foundation of the Church, decides to go back to his

nets. “I’m going out to fish.”

Where do you go, either physically or in your mind, when you get frustrated?

WEEK THIRTY-THREE

303

Peter goes back to the place where he was when Jesus first called him. From what one place,

behavior, attitude, or relationship has Jesus called you?

Describe the temptation to go back to that place, behavior, attitude, or relationship. How does

doubt or fear or failure feed your desire to “go out to fish?”

If possible, identify when you are most tempted to “go out to fish.”

In what ways have you drawn specific lines of protection for yourself, either in your

environments or in your relationships? Who knows your lines?

Peter wasn’t the only one going out to fish; the rest of the disciples followed him. People not only

follow leaders into greener pastures; they also follow leaders into the dark. How have you been

led into the dark by following one who wasn’t fully following Jesus?

Notice how Jesus responds to His disciples—to those He is leading. There is no judgment or

shame. Instead, Jesus cooks them breakfast. How does this specific response encourage you

when you doubt, deny Jesus, or choose sin?

By observing and understanding Jesus’ example, how should you treat those who have drifted or

“gone out to fish?”

WEEK THIRTY-THREE

304

Is there someone you need to invite to breakfast? Someone you’ve hurt, someone who has hurt

you, or just someone who would be encouraged by being with you? If no one comes to mind,

ask God to guide you to the person He wants you to encourage. Note the name of the person here

and what one specific word you want to share with him.



When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me

more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love

you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you

love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that

I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you

know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself

and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone

else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the

kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Peter denies Jesus three times right before His crucifixion. After the miraculous catch and

breakfast, Jesus reinstates Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times

Jesus affirms His love for Jesus. Then Jesus tells Peter that his life will not be easy and that he

will die a harsh death. Finally, Jesus says, “Follow me!” (A further study of John 21:15–17 is

suggested to better understand the language that Jesus uses with Peter.)

At the beginning of Peter’s enrollment as a disciple, Jesus issues Him a command. What was that

command?

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Jesus doesn’t ask Peter to lead His sheep. He calls Peter to care for His sheep. Every one of

Jesus’ followers is called to make disciples. Who are your sheep? What are three practical ways

you are caring for them?

1.

2.

3.

How do you regularly give and receive love from those following you?

As you minister to others, how does your service lead to a sense of soul satisfaction?

What aspect of your ministry causes your heart to break? How have you experienced a suffering

of the heart in your ministry?

At what point in the journey (if at all) does Jesus call Peter to “lead?”

Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him. What’s the primary difference between leading and

loving? Is it possible to lead without love?

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Samuel Logan Brengle wrote powerfully about the essence of ministry in the Army. Love is

absolutely central to the mission of the movement.

The Army is so thoroughly organized and disciplined, so wrought into the life of

nations, so fortified with valuable properties, and on such a sound financial basis,

that it is not likely to perish as an organization, but it will become a spiritually

dead thing if love leaks out. Love is the life of The Army. “If we love one another,

God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us.” But if love leaks out we shall

lose our crown, we shall have a name to live and yet be dead. We may still house

the homeless, dole out food to the hungry, punctiliously perform our routine

work, but the mighty ministry of the Spirit will no longer be our glory. Our

musicians will play meticulously, our Songsters will revel in the artistry of song

that tickles the ear, but leaves the heart cold and hard. Our Officers will make

broad their phylacteries and hob- nob with mayors and councilmen and be

greeted in the market-place, but God will not be among us. We shall still recruit

our ranks and supply our Training Garrisons with Cadets from among our own

Young People, but we shall cease to be saviors of the lost sheep that have no

shepherd.9

In what ways have you seen “love leak out?” How is God calling you to fill those gaps with His

love?

There is little mention in Scripture about the nature of leadership. Yet there is much attention

given to leadership in the Church and in the Army today. How do you interpret Jesus’ silence on

the specific role of leaders?

How is God calling you to lead with love in the following

relationships? Your marriage:

Your children:

Your co-workers:

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Your neighbors:

His Army:

Jesus tells Peter that his life will end in death. Reread John 21:17–19.

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself

and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone

else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the

kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Even in this prophetic picture, Jesus concludes with these familiar words: “Follow me!” The

simple Army prayer chorus “Where He Leads Me” (SASB CS057) says:

Where he leads me I will

follow, Where he leads me I

will follow, Where he leads

me I will follow,

I’ll go with him, with him, all the way.

Write a simple declaration to the Lord, telling Him that even if it means being marginalized or

misunderstood, even if means abandonment or loneliness, even if it means the death of a dream

or even physical death, you will follow where He leads.



Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the

one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to

betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must

follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not

die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until

I return, what is that to you?”

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24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his

testimony is true.

25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that

even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

As Jesus and Peter talk, Peter notices John and wonders aloud about the other disciple’s death.

“What about him?” In your own words, write Jesus’ reply.

As a leader, there is always a great temptation to cast our eyes on what other people are doing.

When was the last time you were so preoccupied with someone else—with what he did or had

done—that you say to Jesus, “Yes, yes, I get it. But what about him?”

In your own words, write Jesus’ reply to your previous question.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” How have you fallen victim to

com- paring yourself, your work, or your followership/leadership to that of another?

John Ortberg writes humorously about the temptation to appear bigger, stronger, or smarter than

those around us.

Years ago I was at a pastors’ conference. During a break between sessions, three

of us were talking together. One man said to another, “So, how is your church

going?”

In case you’re not a pastor, let me translate. That’s pastorese for “How big is your

church?” which is pastorese for “How important are you? Are you worthwhile

for me to talk to and get to know? Would it be cool to go back home and tell

people I had a conversation with you?”

The pastor responded: “Oh, pretty good. We have about 1,000 at our church.

How’s your church going?”

The first pastor said, “Well, the Lord’s blessing us all right. We run about 1,500 or so.”

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Then they looked at me. I knew what was coming next.

I was working at a church that had maybe 250 attendees at the time. And then a

little voice, so quiet I was hardly even aware of it, began to whisper some

management impression strategy to me: Say the church has about 300 people.

250 people is awfully small. A church of 300 people sounds less embarrassing

than only 250.

Right at the same time, another inner voice responded: What are you doing? You

don’t even know these men. You will never see them again. Do you think they’d

really care?Are you willing to trade your integrity, which when you come right

down to it, is all you really have, for the sake of the status you would gain by 50

lousy people?

So I said we run about 2,000. Not just transfers from other churches, either. Seriously

impressive converts—Hugh Hefner, Jimmy Hoffa, the Dalai Lama.

The tug to score the wrong kind of points pulls at me more often than I can say.10

What is at the core of your comparisons?

Henri Nouwen observes:

The long painful history of the church is the history of people ever and again

tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over

being led.11

Jesus speaks directly to Peter regarding his preoccupation with other people. He says, “What is

that to you?” What is Jesus challenging in Peter’s heart?

What happens when you get preoccupied—when you are tempted to choose power over love,

control over the cross, being a leader over being led? Describe.

The last words Peter hears from Jesus are the exact words He had spoken to Peter at their first

meeting: “Follow me.” What’s the personal implication for you in this ongoing command to

follow Jesus?

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Nouwen also writes about the love God has for us simply because we are His.

Aren’t you, like me, hoping that some person, thing, or event will come along to

give you that final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don’t you often hope:

“May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country, or relationship fulfill my deepest

desire.” But as long as you are waiting for that mysterious moment you will go

on running helter-skelter, always anxious and restless, always lustful and angry,

never fully satisfied. You know that this is the compulsiveness that keeps us

going and busy, but at the same time makes us wonder whether we are getting

anywhere in the long run. This is the way to spiritual exhaustion and burnout.

This is the way to spiritual death.12

Well, you and I don’t have to kill ourselves. We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved, and we

were loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved—or wounded—

us. That’s the truth of our lives. That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself. That’s the truth

spoken by the Voice that says, “You are my Beloved.”

What difference does it make in your life right now to know that you are not simply another

leader or another follower—that whether you are greatly skilled or have fallen or failed, our

God stands in front of you and calls you His Beloved?

Thirty years after his encounter with the risen Christ, Peter wrote these words. Reflect and

meditate on 1 Peter 1:3–9.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new

birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an

inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who

through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be

revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may

have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of

your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in

praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love

him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an

inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of

your souls.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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THE Essential Nature OF A Follower/Leader

God’s Word—Psalm 23






foundational truth?

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Read Psalm 23.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right

paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before

me in the presence of my

enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow

me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

Memorize Psalm 23. Begin by rewriting the verses here.

By memory, write Psalm 23.

Derek Kidner observes:

Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. Its peace is not escape; its

contentment is not complacency: there is readiness to face deep darkness and

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imminent attack, and the climax reveals a love which homes towards no material goal but to

the Lord Himself.13

Psalm 23 is a picture of Biblical leadership. It’s an outline of how one can live, lead, and love.

David, the shepherd boy, is now king and shepherd of the people of God. Yet David sees God as

his shepherd. As you think of David’s life, list two ways he has been shepherded (led) by God.

1.

2.

Because of this sheep-to-Shepherd relationship, David is able to say, “I lack nothing.” Can you

confidently say the same? What triggers a sense of deficiency in you?

Reflect on the ways God shepherds you. How real is His shepherding in your life?

In what ways do you currently sense God leading you?

Over the last three months, how has God refreshed your soul?

How has God been “with you” in your darkest valleys? How has His presence made the valley

livable?

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Brian Saunders writes about life after the loss of his wife Leticia:

The heart of Psalm 23 is verse four: “Even though I walk through the valley of

the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The phrase is also

translated as “the darkest valley.” Here, in this dark place, God abides. The

Shepherd does not abandon his sheep, but walks right alongside with us;

protecting, guiding. It is his presence that provides comfort and sustenance. It is

his presence that provides restoration and peace. He is with me. I am walking.

The walking itself is important. It signifies progress. It suggests movement.

Although those oases are good, the reality is we cannot stay there. The journey

continues. The rest stops and mountain-top experiences are meant to be just

that— moments of restoration and joy that sustain and encourage us as we travel

along. So I keep moving— moving is good. Grief

can trap you; hold you down; make you feel you can never take another step. So

we choose to keep moving forward. One step at a time. Keep breathing, keep

stumbling along. Eventually, we look back and notice we are not stumbling

anymore. We are walking— even running sometimes. No longer afraid of the

future, able to see the positives in life; to enjoy the moments and milestones.

Because God is with us.14

How do you sense God walking with you today? How is He showing up? How is He leading

you? Where is He leading you?

How do His rod and staff bring you comfort and strength in the midst of evil in the following

areas? Relationships

Financial pressures

Your past

Loss

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Thought life

The prosperity gospel continues to be prevalent in our world today. Promises of safety, health,

and wealth dominate its message. How does the prosperity gospel differ from the Biblical

gospel?

In what ways has your personal pain brought you closer to the Good Shepherd? How has He

ministered to you in your pain and woundedness?

What do you do when God doesn’t come through for you in the way you think He should? Have you experienced any relational distances with others because of your own personal pain? How has God filled the distance gap?

Pain is a byproduct of our fallen nature. There are times when we personally cause pain and

other times when pain is simply a result of living in a fallen world. One writer put it this way:

“Sometimes sin just splashes on us.” How do you resolve the issue of pain in the Christian life?

Read and meditate on the following prayer of Thomas Merton. Make his prayer personal.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of

me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am

actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please

you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never

do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me

by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you

always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear,

for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.15

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Review Psalm 23:5–6.

You prepare a table before

me in the presence of my

enemies.

You anoint my head with

oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will

follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

God’s rod and staff bring us comfort and strength. He is not only leading us through a valley; He

is leading us back to Himself. What’s your ultimate goal as a follower/leader? Where do you

ultimately want to lead those who are in your sphere of influence?

Brian Saunders writes, “I am more convinced than ever that there is no more significant role for

the officer or minister than illness and grief ministry.”16

The essence of leadership is the willingness to enter into the valley. It’s embracing suffering and

shame, not turning from it. It’s meeting a person in their truest selves—exactly who and where

they are—and walking with them to a place of a healing, wholeness, and holiness. This process

is never quick or easy. This is soul work, and soul work is always slow work.

In what one relationship are you living out true leadership?

A shepherd would go ahead of his sheep to prepare the pasture—the table. In the ancient world,

this would include the removal of anything that would cause harm to the flock: thorns, snakes, or

other wild animals. David recognizes that God is preparing the land before him.

In what ways do you see God going before you?

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David has very real enemies. What are your enemies—perceived or real? Name each, and

describe the reality of your battles.

David says that God prepares a table “in the presence of my enemies.” The land God has prepared

for us includes enemies. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, promised that His followers would be

persecuted, maligned, and marginalized. How do you maintain congruence with persecution and

God’s presence in your life? How is it possible for these to co-exist? How do you lead others

through this tension?

What is the significance of anointing? How is this translated into your life? How is it translated

to your relationships?

Though pain is present, though darkness covers the valley, though enemies are in the land, David

pro- claims, “...my cup overflows.” What is at the core of such a proclamation? Note anything that

might prevent you from making the same declaration.

Marty Haugen put Psalm 23 to song. Many liturgical churches sing “Shepherd Me, O God” at

funeral services. This gentle song includes the refrain, “Shepherd me, O God, beyond my

wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.” The song moves softly from the verses of Psalm

23 to this poignant refrain.

Recognizing both the existence of pain and the eternal promise that pain will one day be

redeemed gives the believer confidence in our Good Shepherd. Reflect again on your wants and

your fears. How do you need God to shepherd you in each?

Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants.

Shepherd me, O God, beyond my fears.

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More than anything else, God uses people to heal people. The role of the follower/leader is to

point out God’s love and grace no matter the victory, celebration, pain, or trial. Consider the

words of Henri Nouwen as he describes the kind of person who most deeply ministers to a friend

in pain.

...When we honestly ask ourselves which persons in our lives mean the most

to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving much advice,

solutions, or

cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle

and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or

con- fusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can

tolerate not-knowing, not-curing, not-healing and face with us the reality of our

powerless- ness, that is the friend who cares.17

Which of these truths have you seen evidenced in your life? How have you participated in this

type of friendship/leadership?



Therefore, Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have

come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate;

whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The

thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to

the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Describe the parallel between God shepherding David and Jesus shepherding

you.

Those whom Jesus shepherds (leads) will “find pasture.” What are the spiritual qualities that exist

in this space?

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Jesus references the thief, whose purpose is “only to steal and kill and destroy.” Communally,

what is the evil one after? Complete each sentence stem.

The thief is trying to steal our

The thief is trying to kill our

The thief is trying to destroy our

In what areas of your life does it appear that the thief is winning? How can your brothers join you

in each battle?

In which of your battles have you seen Jesus have great victory? Be prepared to share these with

your brothers, as well.

Jesus says His purpose is “that they may have life, and have it to the full.” What does this life

look like? What does it feel like?

How is this purpose being fully realized in your life today?

In order for His sheep to live both an abundant life and an eternal life, our Good Shepherd

endured pain.

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Read Hebrews 12:1–3.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything

that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race

marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set

before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne

of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow

weary and lose heart.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is the “author” or “pioneer and perfecter of faith.” He is writing your

personal story in a communal context. In order for you to live, He had to die. There was a

penalty—a debt—paid for your redemption. The writer of Hebrews says, “For the joy set before

Him he endured the cross.” What in your current communal context would bring Jesus so much

joy that He would endure the cross?

Read Isaiah 53:4–6.

Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for

our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on

him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone

astray, each of us has turned to

our own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

How does God use Jesus’ pain and suffering to restore intimate relationship between God and His

people? How are you personally affected by His sacrifice?

Jesus has become our wounded healer—by His wounds we are healed. In his book The Wounded

Healer, Henri Nouwen suggests that our own wounds and pain can also be a source of healing.

How can your personal wounds and pain strengthen your community?

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Have there been seasons in your past when, instead of sharing your wounds, you’ve hidden

them? What was at the core of this cover-up?

How has intimacy flourished in the body of Christ when, in humility, pain was shared?

Spend a few moments reflecting and meditating on the words to “I’ll Not Turn Back” by Gowans

and Larsson.

If crosses come, if it should cost me

dearly to be the servant of my Servant

Lord; if darkness falls around the path

of duty, and men despise the Saviour

I’ve adored.

I’ll not turn back, whatever it may

cost; I’m called to live, to love and

save the lost. I’ll not turn back,

whatever it may cost; I’m called to

live, to love and save the lost.

If doors should close then other doors will open, the word of God can never be contained. His love cannot be finally frustrated,

By narrow minds or prison bars retrained.

If tears should fall, if I am called to

suffer, If all I love men should deface,

defame, I’ll not deny the One that I

have followed, nor be ashamed to

bear my Master’s name.

I’ll not turn back, whatever it may

cost, I’m called to live, to love and save

the lost.18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Follow Me AS I

Follow Christ

God’s Word—Philippians 3






foundational truth?

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Read the following Passages.

1Corinthians 11:1

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Philippians 3:17–21

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your

eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with

tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach,

and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven.

And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to

bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious

body.

Hebrews 13:7–8

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life

and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What is the primary theme of these verses?

Jesus calls His disciples to be like Him. He calls us to live like Him, share like Him, care like Him,

forgive like Him, and love like Him. Ultimately, His call has always been for His followers to die to

themselves and be conformed to the image and character of Christ. Our lives are a representation of

Jesus to a lost and dying world.

As Paul writes to the churches at Corinth and Philippi, he says, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” How

would that call have been received by those in the two churches?

The writer of Hebrews says something very similar. He says, “Consider the outcome of [your leaders’]

way of life and imitate their faith.” Whose example would these readers, in turn, “consider?” Whose

faith would they imitate?

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The twelve disciples had Jesus’ example to follow. They were able to imitate His faith and His

actions; they knew His motives, and they courageously followed Him. As you consider the

verses above, what is the implication for you?

Whom do you follow? Whose faith do you imitate? What is it about that particular person that

draws you to learn from them?

How would you respond if your Corps Officer stood up next Sunday and said, “Brothers, if you

don’t know what Jesus was like, just look at me. If you want to know how Jesus cared, all you

need to do is care the way I care. If you want to know how Jesus forgave, then forgive the way I

do. If you want to know how Jesus served, watch me and serve the way I serve. If you want to

know how Jesus loved, then love the way I love.”

How would people in your sphere of influence respond if you said, “Follow me, as I follow

Christ”?

What is your greatest hesitation in boldly saying what Paul said?

The Psalmist reminds us that in the midst of our learning how to follow Him, God will instruct us

on how to live.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalm 32:8)

How is God instructing you today? How is He counseling you now?

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Many times we learn from leaders because of what they say and do. But we also learn by what is

not said or done. Many men would never say, “If you want to follow Christ, just live like me,” but

the reality is that those around you assume that the way you live is the way to follow Christ. You

don’t have to say these words; your life is saying these words. The way you live right now is

making a statement about what you believe about Jesus.

Use three words to describe how you are living right now.

1.

2.

3.

Is it possible? Is it possible to actually live and love the way Jesus did? If it were possible for Paul

or for the elders to do this, why would it not be possible for you? What will happen in your

community if men don’t rise up and call people to follow Christ as they follow Him?

In his article “Follow John Wesley, Glorious John Wesley,” Andrew Miller III begins with the

following.

With a note pad in his hands and a series of questions ready to be asked, the

distinguished theologian and founding editor of The Methodist Times, Reverend

Hugh Price Hughes, skips a list of inquiries and jumps to the question that he

wanted to ask most. His subject was the fifty-six-year-old religious and

ecclesiological misfit, General William Booth. Here was Booth, a man who had

left the formality of the Methodist New Connexion, a group started by the rebel

rousing Alexander Kilham (1762–1798) in 1797, being asked about his young

and thriving Salvation Army. It was 1885, and the success of the Army was

evident as it now included 1,749 corps and 4,129 officers in nearly every country

within the British Commonwealth. Booth indicates the ironic nature of the

question posed by Hugh Price Hughes in The Methodist Times as he asked, “Have

you any special advice for us Methodists?” To which Booth succinctly responds,

“Follow John Wesley, glorious John Wesley.” These words underscore the way

that William Booth thought about his religious context, and what he felt was

handed to him as a theological inheritance from the Wesleyan tradition.19

We can assume that Booth urged his Methodist brothers to follow John Wesley because Wesley

followed Christ. Whom would you urge your brothers to follow as they follow Christ?

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This calling is for all men. It’s not for just for soldiers or officers or the super-spiritual. It’s a call

for all who follow Him. How is He calling you to follow and lead today?


Read Psalm 145:3–13.

Great is the LORD and most worthy of

praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to

another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your

majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful

works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome

works— and I will proclaim your great

deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant

goodness and joyfully sing of your

righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and

compassionate, slow to anger and rich

in love. 9 The LORD is good to all;

he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, LORD;

your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your

kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty

acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures through all generations.

What’s your favorite way to give worship to our God?

How has your understanding of worship changed over the last few years?

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The Psalmist declares, “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your

mighty acts.” How specifically are you commending His work to the next generation?

Followership/leadership requires great intentionality. Discipleship doesn’t just happen.

Discipleship is not a formal process, but it’s not formless. What’s the first step in seeing Psalm

145 lived out in your corps? Whose responsibility is it to ensure that this Scripture is being

fulfilled?

Read Ephesians 4:11–13.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to

equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all

reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to

the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

According to the text, what is the Scriptural mandate for followers of Jesus?

In your own words, describe “unity” and “maturity.”

What does “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” look like? What does it feel like? What

does it sound like?

Read Ephesians 4:14–16.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there

by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful

scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the

mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held

together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its

work.

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How does Paul describe people who do not grow in Christ?

Think about your corps, the Christian community, and the Church universal. How do you see

each growing in maturity? What do you see as the greatest reason some remain “infants?”

Jesus said, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” (John 12:32,

NLT) What is your role, and what is God’s role in helping the next generation grow toward

maturity?

Take a few moments to pray. Ask God to lead you as you courageously lead others. Use the

space below if needed.


Read 1 John 2:12–17.

I am writing to you, dear children,

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

14 I write to you, dear children,

because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men,

because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

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15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is

not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride

of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but

whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Who did John have in mind when he addressed his readers as “dear children,” “fathers,” and

“young men?”

What issues in the spiritual life is John addressing?

Rewrite 1 John 2:16–17 in your own words.

How do you stay in step with the Spirit, resisting the world and leading others at the same time?

How has God used serving/leading to bring about growth in your life?

Our 7th doctrine states:

We believe that repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,

and regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are necessary to salvation.20

We are utterly desperate for God’s work in our lives. We cannot grow others or ourselves in our

own strength. What is your role in the process of spiritual maturity, and what is God’s role?

How are you living in a constant posture of dependence and desperation as you follow and lead?

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WEEK THIRTY-FIVE

Describe a season when you were so overwhelmed with the responsibilities of leadership that

irresponsibility began to look attractive. What was the outcome of that season?

How do you know when to ask for help? When do you reach out to a fellow follower to help

provide you the strength to persevere?

There are seasons when leadership becomes so difficult and overbearing that we question its

worth. Instead of pressing into the Source of strength and comfort, we are tempted to try to

manage and control. We are tempted to manipulate circumstances to produce the outcomes we

desire.

God is the God of outcomes. Outcomes are the work of the Holy Spirit; our call is to be faithful

to follow Him as He leads.

How is God calling you to release outcomes and simply be faithful today?

The Scripture is filled with examples of the ongoing struggles of leadership. Ultimately, our God

is calling you to simply follow Him. He’s calling you to come to Him and rest. Spend a few

moments reflecting and meditating on the lyrics of “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” Renew

your commitment to followership.

I have decided to follow

Jesus; I have decided to

follow Jesus; I have

decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross

before me; The world behind me, the

cross before me; The world behind

me, the cross before me; No turning

back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will

follow; Though none go with me, still I

will follow; Though none go with me,

still I will follow; No turning back, no

turning back.21

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Reflection & Prayer








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FOLLOWERSHIP

Vespers

Suggested resources for further study:

Study:

Lead Your Family Like Jesus Group Experience (Participant’s

Guide), Ken Blanchard and Tricia Goyer

Read:

Ancient Prophets, Samuel Logan Brengle

Through the Valley, Brian Saunders When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, John Ortberg In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, Henri J. M. Nouwen

Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life, Thomas Merton

Telling Secrets, Fredrick Buechner

Listen:

Neon Steeple, Crowder

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NOTES

FOLLOWERSHIP

1 Wil Hernandez, Henri Nouwen and Soul Care: A Ministry of Integration (Paulist Press, 2008), 61

2 Ibid., 63

3 Henri J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership (The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1992),

79

4 Jon Bloom, “”Simon the Magician: The Peril of Pursuing Greatness,” www.DesiringGod.org, accessed November 12, 2014,

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/simon-the-magician-the-peril-of-pursuing-greatness

5 Jonathan Stockstill, “Open Up the Sky,” Bethany Live Presents Deluge (Integrity/Columbia, 2008)

6 Frederich Buechner, Telling Secrets: A Memoir (HarperCollins Publishers, 1991), 2, 3

7 Dr. J. Robert Clinton, The Making of a Leader: Recognizing the Lessons and Stages of Leadership Development (NavPress,

1988)

8 Wil Hernandez, Henri Nouwen and Soul Care, 62

9 Samuel Logan Brengle, Ancient Prophets (Salvationist Publishing, 1929), 199

10 John Ortberg, When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box (Zondervan, 2007), 40, 41

11 Henri J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus, 77

12 Henri J. M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2002), 30

13 Derek Kidner, Psalms 1–72, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Book 15), 127

14 Brian Saunders, Through the Valley (publishing pending, 2014), 165, 166

15 Thomas Merton, Thoughts In Solitude (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999), 79

16 Brian Saunders, Through the Valley, 39

17 Henri J. M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life (Ave Maria Press, First printing 1974), 38

18 John Gowans and John Larsson, “I’ll Not Turn Back,” Man Mark II (Salvationist Publishing & Supplies, Ltd., 1988)The

Beautiful FIGHT

19 Andrew S. Miller III, “’Follow John Wesley, Glorious John Wesley’: The Theological Context of William Booth’s

Ecclesiology,” ArmyBarmy.com, accessed November 13, 2014, http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article7-72.html

20 General William Booth, General Bramwell Booth, and General Frederick Coutts, The Salvation Army Handbook of Doctrine

(Originally prepared by General William Booth in 1881; this edition reissued by General Shaw Clifton, Salvation Books, 2010),

xvi ”

21 Author Unknown, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” 32

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The Beautiful Fight · The Beautiful Fight is created to equip Salvationist men to live out the daily, dynamic expression of our faith. The purpose of the study is to equip men with